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- Denny's #7219
- Santa Clara, California
- 04 July 1999
- 10:45am PDT
- 3715 El Camino Real
- (408) 296-1048
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- Attendees: P7A77, Wade Bell, Matthew Ross Davis, Linnea, Barbara Reece, Michael Reece
- Wait-person(s): Pancho
- What we ate: P7A77 - Ultimate Omelette, Hashbrowns Covered & Smothered, Rye Toast, Coffee, Water; Wade - Hotcakes, Coffee, Water; Matthew - 2 Egg Breakfast (over easy), Hashbrowns, Sourdough Toast, Coffee, Water; Linnea - 2 Egg Breakfast (scrambled), Country Fried Potatoes, Coffee, Orange Juice, Water; Barbara - Eggs Benedicts (no ham), Sourdough Toast, Hot Chocolate, Water; Michael - 2 Egg Breakfast (scrambled), Hashbrowns, Sourdough Toast, Orange Juice, Water
- We went to visit friends in San Francisco for a 4th of July weekend bash. This wasn't just any sort of pansy-ass cookout... this was a kick you in the head, slide your face around in the gravel, punch you in the gut, scrape your kneecaps to the bone sort of bash. We partied. HARD. When all was said and done I was awake for about forty hours, which isn't that big of a deal usually, but when one has been torturing his mind and body as I had been, it seems like an eternity. This trip to Denny's was made on about hour 28.
- The Denny's was only about a mile or so from the bash location, and since nobody was in much of a mood (or a state) to drive, we walked. The morning sun was cruel to my eyes, but refreshing to my body. The folks I was with were all tech-heads, and as we were walking I asked exactly where Silicon Valley was. They said I was right in the middle of it. This is at what I was looking when they said that. I was still mulling that over when I got to this point. Not quite what I expected.
- Finally we got to Denny's. It seems like a newer location because of the store number, but it was interesting to see the old style logo in a non-Denny's-shaped sign. Tho' at that point I really didn't care too much. I wanted to get in and eat.
- This was the first time I had been to a Denny's since they started their ZOOB promotion. For those who don't know or haven't seen it, ZOOBS are these little plastic modular toys that one can piece together to make various things (such as the "ZOOB DUDE"). It's a mix between Lego blocks and Tinker Toys. Same sort of concept. On their lobby display they had a note that they'd give you a set with which to play for free while you waited for your meal, and they also strongly suggested that one purchase more than one set, because look at all the fun things you can make with two, three, or even four sets of ZOOBS. What marketing. Get the kids hooked on playing with them, then show them how more is better. First one's free, but after that, it takes more and more to get the same feeling.
- We were seated, but they only had booths. We thought we might try to get everyone crammed into a booth, so we asked for a chair. Then we decided there'd be no way to get comfortable with that, so we opted for two booths. Alas, it was too late to stop the order for the chair, so we kept it anyway. Then, a few minutes later, the family at the large table across the aisle left (possibly prompted by our presence), so we swapped, putting their dirty dishes and tip on our table, and moving our drinks and silverware and bodies over to theirs. And, since it was still a little crowded, I ended up sitting in the chair.
- The meal came and went without incident. I noticed that most of my dining companions (picture two) had a two egg breakfast and sourdough toast. Must be a California thing. Every time the waiter came by, I asked about purchasing some ZOOBS. He kept saying he'd get some, but he never did. Finally he told me they were out. Blast! So I asked if I could buy the box that was in the front lobby display. He checked and said no. Well, then, since they were out of Zoobs, could I have one of the ceiling displays? He had to check on that. He came back and said that if I could get it down, I could have one. These things were eight or nine feet in the air, so he probably thought I'd never get to it. He must have forgotten the chair. A few steps and snips later, I was the proud owner of not only a ZOOB display, but a ZOOB DUDE and a ZOOB SCORPION (on the back of the display). Unfortunately, they were glued together, so I couldn't take them apart and make more ZOOB creatures, but in the grand scheme of things, I didn't really care.
- When all was said and done, this turned out to be one of the most fruitful Denny's trips I've taken. I mean, how can you go wrong with ZOOBS.
- As a footnote, Amie and I also did a little sightseeing (after a nap and a shower). Here's a nice shot of the Golden Gate Bridge, and another of us in front of said bridge.
- WAY: no
- Free Stuff: ZOOB Display
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